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palpatine

macrumors 68040
Original poster
May 3, 2011
3,130
45
It sounds like a baseless rumor to me at the moment, but if true, it would certainly turn my head!

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The resolution on the alleged iPad Mini 2 is said to measure 2048 x 1536 pixels, which would be roughly four times the resolution of the first-generation iPad Mini, but by packing this many pixels into a smaller device, Apple actually boosts the density of the iPad Mini with Retina display to 324 pixels per inch (ppi). As a frame of reference, the iPad 3 and 4 both have display densities of 264 ppi, while the iPhone 5 has a similar density of 326 ppi.
http://thediplomat.com/pacific-money/2013/02/05/ipad-mini-2-rumors-an-impressive-retina-display/
 

hovscorpion12

macrumors 68030
Sep 12, 2011
2,536
2,463
USA
Not bad. It matches the iPhone PPI (iPhone 4-iPhone 5). My question is the screen resolution. If Apple includes the 1536 x 2048 pixels found on the full scale iPad. this is a buy!!:D:D:D.
 

jabingla2810

macrumors 68020
Oct 15, 2008
2,271
938
It would be 326 PPI, the same as the iPhone 4, 4S and 5.

Apple picked the 7.9" size screen at resolution of 1024 x 768 because it matched the same pixel density as the iPhone 3GS. Obviously they have a lot of experience and high supplies of such displays.

The iPad Mini retina display will essentially be the iPhone 4 display but larger, same pixel density anyway.

Apple keeping costs down by using some good maths.
 

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
17,913
9,413
Atlanta, GA
Apple picked the 7.9" size screen at resolution of 1024 x 768 because it matched the same pixel density as the iPhone 3GS. Obviously they have a lot of experience and high supplies of such displays.

1024 x 768 was chosen so the huge library of iPad apps would not have to be rewritten for a new resolution; they could just keep using the non-retina assets. It had nothing to do with keeping the iPhone 3GS' ppi. This is why the rMini will have the iPad 4's resolution but with a higher ppi.
 

jabingla2810

macrumors 68020
Oct 15, 2008
2,271
938
1024 x 768 was chosen so the huge library of iPad apps would not have to be rewritten for a new resolution; they could just keep using the non-retina assets. It had nothing to do with keeping the iPhone 3GS' ppi. This is why the rMini will have the iPad 4's resolution but with a higher ppi.

You didn't understand my post.

Obviously they chose the same resolution as the iPad 2, but my point is that they chose the SIZE of the screen, 7.9" so the PPI is the same as the iPhone 3GS, 163 PPI.

Therefore the retina iPad mini will have the same PPI as the iPhone 4, 326 PPI.

This helps keep supply costs down because they are dealing with the same LCD screens, just different sizes.

The article the OP links is wrong, 324 PPI is something the iPad mini won't have, and worryingly it has been copied by a host of other useless websites that can't do maths.
 

palpatine

macrumors 68040
Original poster
May 3, 2011
3,130
45
You didn't understand my post.

Obviously they chose the same resolution as the iPad 2, but my point is that they chose the SIZE of the screen, 7.9" so the PPI is the same as the iPhone 3GS, 163 PPI.

Therefore the retina iPad mini will have the same PPI as the iPhone 4, 326 PPI.

This helps keep supply costs down because they are dealing with the same LCD screens, just different sizes.

The article the OP links is wrong, 324 PPI is something the iPad mini won't have, and worryingly it has been copied by a host of other useless websites that can't do maths.

Do you have an article that gets it "right"? I am not sure what there is to worry about, but whatever the ppi, if we are talking about something above 300, that sounds pretty good to me. CNET (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57567519-37/ipad-mini-retina-display-may-surpass-ipad-4/), by the way, is giving the same number. It may be that they are reporting what they are hearing. At this point, I trust whatever imaginary source they have more than our calculations, which are not based on any knowledge of what is actually being produced.
 

SnowLeopard2008

macrumors 604
Jul 4, 2008
6,772
17
Silicon Valley
Do you have an article that gets it "right"? I am not sure what there is to worry about, but whatever the ppi, if we are talking about something above 300, that sounds pretty good to me. CNET (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57567519-37/ipad-mini-retina-display-may-surpass-ipad-4/), by the way, is giving the same number. It may be that they are reporting what they are hearing. At this point, I trust whatever imaginary source they have more than our calculations, which are not based on any knowledge of what is actually being produced.

You don't get it either. Apple chose the resolution (# of pixels) to match iPad 1 and 2 so apps won't need different assets (think the images for buttons, pictures, game art, etc.). Apple chose 7.9" physical screen size (as opposed to 6" or 7" or whatever) so that the pixel density is the same as iPhone 3GS. This means that GUI elements (like the actual physical size of buttons, icons, etc. NOT pixel size but size measured with a ruler) will be the same size that users are already used to touching on their current iPhones and iPads. This is incredibly smart because the roadmap to retina is already built by their iPhone 4, 4S, 5. They can order the same exact LCDs as iPhone 4, 4S, 5 but just cut them at larger sizes. This helps with supply chain. They don't need to deal with a new problem of "how to go to retina?" because the attributes of the non-retina display is the same as their previous non-retina-but-was-upgraded-to-retina devices. Albeit just larger physical size.

iPhone 3GS has 163 PPI. To go retina, Apple doubled the pixel count both horizontally and vertically. Result was iPhone 4 which has 326 PPI. Notice 163 * 2 = 326.

iPad 1 and 2 has 132 PPI. To go retina, Apple double the pixel count both horizontally and vertically. Result was iPad 3 which has 264 PPI. Notice 132 * 2 = 264.

iPad mini has 163 PPI. To go retina, Apple needs to double the pixel count both horizontally and vertically. Result will (hypothetically) be iPad mini with Retina which has 264 PPI. Notice 163 * 2 = 326. To go through with this, they just need to order the same exact part as iPhone 4, 4S, 5 but just larger physical size. You don't need a totally different supplier or totally different part. It's the same exact part with same exact PPI, just larger physical size.

Apple tends to use the same core components (CPU/GPU, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, Accelerometer, Gyro, camera sensors, screen panel/technology/type/etc.) across various iOS devices. This holds many advantages. It's easier to maintain a performance standard since it's the same component just different form factor. It's easier to write apps for since you know the WiFi chip isn't from 10+ vendors but from 1-2. It's also good for scaling production of devices since they shared core components. You don't need to order a whole bunch of parts for each device. Just the same one but a massive quantity. It's also good for introducing new models because core technologies are leverage and shared from past.
 
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SnowLeopard2008

macrumors 604
Jul 4, 2008
6,772
17
Silicon Valley
No. But, thanks for the explanation. Do you have an article reporting that? I was just looking for "actual" (whatever that means in the rumor-rich tech world) first-hand reports.

Reporting what? The numbers I used? It's no secret what the screen pixel densities are for past iPhones and iPads. Of course this is "speculation" but Apple introduces a new technology (i.e. retina display) or concept and slowly spreads it across their entire product line. Of course they won't tell you that up front directly. But it's evident that they introduced retina on the iPhone 4. Then on iPad. And then on Macs. They took a new technology and spread it from small devices (easier to control yield on smaller stuff) and then rapidly scaled it.

No company in the tech world will walk you through their entire thought process and reasoning for every decision they make.
 

jabingla2810

macrumors 68020
Oct 15, 2008
2,271
938
No. But, thanks for the explanation. Do you have an article reporting that? I was just looking for "actual" (whatever that means in the rumor-rich tech world) first-hand reports.

http://ultratechtalk.com/ipad-mini-2-with-retina-display/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/12/14/ipad_rumors/

http://venturebeat.com/2012/12/14/rumor-ipad-mini-is-going-retina/

http://512pixels.net/2013/01/a5x-retina-mini/

These websites theorise an iPad mini with 326 PPI.

They are only rumours like the your original post, however they make much more sense. I mean you only have to do the sum 163(PPI of iPad Mini)x2.
 

cwwilson

macrumors 68000
Jan 27, 2009
1,858
1,362
Oklahoma City, OK
I hope it doesn't come out too soon, an October release date would give me enough time to enjoy my current mini. I only just bought it in December! :p
 

AdonisSMU

macrumors 604
Oct 23, 2010
7,296
3,041
I hope it doesn't come out too soon, an October release date would give me enough time to enjoy my current mini. I only just bought it in December! :p

Wait so you cant enjoy it if you dont have the newest toy on the market? How does a new iPad effect your enjoyment of your current iPad?
 

danpass

macrumors 68030
Jun 27, 2009
2,689
475
Glory
Pffffttt. We knew it would eventually be retina and we knew it would be 2048 since that is the only logical resolution to maintain app integrity.
 

temna

macrumors 6502a
May 5, 2008
713
410
Considering all the issues the manufacturers had with the current mini screen and the new generation screens for the iPad 5, can anyone realistically see a retina iPad mini before October? Let's be realistic and not fanboy crazy. Hell, I'd be surprised to see retina before the mini 3 at the rate things are going for screen development and production, especially considering they don't want Samsung anywhere near this production.
 

daywiz

macrumors regular
Nov 12, 2012
128
0
Just to avoid confusion and clarify the discrepancy between the resolution & PPI, here is the simple explanation.

Product: Present ipad mini
Resolution: 1024 × 768
PPI: 163

Product: Supposed retina ipad mini
Resolution: 2048 × 1536 ( exactly double
PPI: 326


Reason for the confusion:

Most of the website are considering the iPad Mini to be 7.9" , when its actually on 7.85".

Look at the calculation below to understand the difference

Product: CLAIMED SIZE ipad mini
Resolution: 1024 × 768
Screen Size: 7.9"
PPI: 162.03

Product: ACTUAL ipad mini
Resolution: 1024 × 768
Screen Size: 7.85"
PPI: 163.06


Likewise the supposed RETINA ipad Mini

Product: CLAIMED SIZE ipad mini
Resolution: 2048 × 1536
Screen Size: 7.9"
PPI: 324.05 *

Product: ACTUAL ipad mini
Resolution: 2048 × 1536
Screen Size: 7.85"
PPI: 326.11*

Therefore, you can be sure if they are going for Retina its going to 326 ppi for sure, just like all the other iOS Retina devices hitting the 326 ppi. The only exception is the full size ipad, which is 263.92, just shy of 264.


Hope that clears the confusion.


 
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palpatine

macrumors 68040
Original poster
May 3, 2011
3,130
45

A Hebrew

macrumors 6502a
Jan 7, 2012
846
2
Minnesota
That rumor is not baseless. Apple will NOT give it a different resolution because that would be a hassle for devs and users.
 

hobx

macrumors regular
Sep 6, 2010
127
1
You know, I have a sneaking suspicion that apple is going to wait to the iPad 3 for this upgrade and go for a proc and graphics upgrade. Apple likes to get as much as possible from its hardware and the current screen will only have had a year of sales, not much for all the development that went into it. It will drive us nuts, but the general public will still buy them en masse.
 

Xiroteus

macrumors 65816
Mar 31, 2012
1,297
75
If this does get a retina display (it has to) of this level I would seriously think about picking this up, however I want to see what the iPad 5 does first and of course I am still looking at the Surface, this would be in line price wise.
 

D.T.

macrumors G4
Sep 15, 2011
11,050
12,460
Vilano Beach, FL
It's kind of a no-brainer for Apple to use 2048x1536 - existing apps work OOTB, no additional assets for "retina spec" apps, the physical size of the device using that resolution produces touch target/UI elements that are within the HIG guidelines, not to mention it should look amazing at 326PPI.

The real question is SOC, battery life and form factor.

The A5X in some variant makes sense: it'll run a 2048 display at [roughly] the same performance as an A5/1024, and if they package it up like they did for the iPad 3, the Mini 2 will also see a RAM bump to 1GB.

That being said, it seems like the A6 is the trend for high[er] end devices, unless Apple wants to position the standard iPad as higher end vs. the Mini (as opposed to simply a difference in form factor).

Otherwise it'll be a decision based on A5X vs. A6X:

Which one is cheaper.
Which one run cooler, uses less power.

One thing I'd be curious about, A5X vs. A6 (non-X) in terms of GPU power. We know the standard A6 is incredibly fast on the iP5, but that's pushing ~2.4 million less pixels. If A6 @ 2048 == A5 @ 1024, I could see them developing from the A6 (though the 4th Gen AppleTV might be an indicator of more widespread use of the A5X for the coming year...)
 
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